| Samurai Revolution - history text. not manga, not anime but source of stories. [message #267545] |
Tue, 16 September 2014 14:45 |
sellers
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Registered: January 2012
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Hi posters and lurkers,
Followups set to rec.arts.anime.misc
I am sending this to the anime and manga newsgroups because
serious dramatist, novelists, anime and manga take a great deal of this
history and present it in more dramatic forms sometimes less accurate
forms.
Samurai Revolution by Romulus Hillborough
Covers the period of 1858-1868 or the fall of the Shogunate then
in the last part of the book covers 1868-1878 or the Rise of the
Imperial Government.
Most of this is from the viewpoint of Katshu Kaishu one of the
most forward looking of the Shogun's officials. The Shogunate
had declined considerable from the days and precepts of the
founder Tokugawa Ieyasu. Most of the samurai were time-serving
officials.
Katsu called for reform and he and others were ignored,
So he is the Outsider having come from a lesser background than
many officials. He did his best to prevent warfare between the various
Japanese interests.
After the Revolution he served the new Imperial Government but
they like the Shogunate were not too interested in his ideas. He had
visited the USA and the frontpiece is a photo of him from his time in
San Francisco. He also got some ideas there that were unpopular at home.
He knew most of the revolutionaries and taught Sakamoto Ryoma in
his naval academy.
The book could use a few more maps as I am left with no idea as to
where in Japan the place (Shizuoka)of the Tokugawa exile was.
However a question which I had been concerned with for a long
time was answered and that is when the various aristocratic ranks
were instituted. Remember that the social structure of society had
been turned on its head?
Well in 1884 following the suggestion of Ito Hirabumi (deceased the
year before) the Meji 16 the Peerage Act was passed creating the Ranks
of Princes, Marquis, Count, Vicount, and Baron. The higher titles were
awarded to the Head of former Daimyo families, and some excellent
Samurai were made Counts. One was Katsu Kaishu.
Katsu Kaishu felt that all the Tokugawa's former vassals were vindicated
when the Emperor finally granted an audience to the last Shogun Tokugawa
Yoshinobu.
About 5 years after Katsu had died, in 1903 the same Tokugawa
Yoshinobu was elevated to the Rank of Prince.
Katsu died before he could do more than outline a two volume history
of the Revolution and the rise of the Imperial Government.
This may have inspired Hillsborough's book.
The Samurai who had supported the revolution rebelled several times
as their social rank, privilege to carry swords and role had been
eliminated. Eventually even one of Japan's greatest revolutionary
heroes was involved
in a rebellion and the great Saigo Takamori, who was aged and ill,
trying to
lead the rebels committed seppuku.
Hillsborough writes very well with an engaging style. All his
information
comes from documents left by Katsu and by many others. The book was
published by Tuttle Publishing and was printed in China.
One dramatic matter of the day was passed over very lightly as
Hillsborough has already written and published a book about the
"The Shinsengummi" which is pretty much definitive. Oh and
I got this from the San Francisco Public Library. If you want to read
it you might request that the local library get it.
Monday, September 15, 2014
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